Camping Trip to Shima - Ise Prefecture

Camping Trip to Shima - Ise prefecture -
Once summer school let out, we took advantage of summer vacation and headed to Ise prefecture and spent some time at Shima. Because of the time of year, we had the beach virtually to ourselves. We stayed in a Japanese style bungalow with tatami mats and futons, (think camping pad and light sleeping bags). 

The campground was across the street from the beach with a huge covered patio to get out of the blistering afternoon sun. We beach combed, swam, body surfed and took full advantage of the beautiful ocean and beach. Stephanie found the largest sand dollar I have ever seen. The shell is bigger than the palm of my hand and was one of the best finds of the trip. The campground and the wonderful campground attendant were the other best finds of the trip.

Stephanie's huge sand dollar!

The sweet and heartwarming campground attendant showered us with kindness and unbeknownst to us, was very generous in providing some amazing delicacies for us to try. She appeared at our picnic table and offered us some Sazae shellfish or Shima famous Turban snails. We told her no thanks but she returned about ten minutes later with a huge abalone served up in the shell and a plate of the Turban snails, one for each member of our family.

Abalone served in the shell - a Shima delicacy

What ensued after that was both delightful and very entertaining. My whole family ate the abalone except me and indicated it was good, but pretty chewy. Then she proceeded to offer us the utensils to eat the GIANT Saza shellfish. Only Bob and Stephanie were brave enough to eat the unsightly shellfish.

Sazae shellfish in the shell - before

Our attendant proceeded to coat the shellfish in soy sauce, pulled it out of its shell and served it up on the plate. I kid you not, I almost gagged. I never could stand the smell of liver and it looked a lot like liver to me.

Sazae shellfish out of the shell - after

I am attaching a video of Bob and Stephanie eating the Sazae shellfish, you can hear me laughing hysterically in the background.

You can hear Bob as ask her "Oishii desuka?" Which means is it delicious? She says,  "So, so oishii". Meaning yes, yes it is delicious. They tried the first part of the snail and said, " Oishii". Then came a part that looks like well...something you should not put in your mouth. Bob says, "kowai". Meaning I am scared. She laughs at him and tells him, "daijobu". Meaning it is ok, it's alright. 

He takes a bite at her prompting and as you can see from the video, once she is out of earshot he says, "Oishii jenai". Meaning, it is not delicious. 

Once we returned home we learned she offered us a very expensive and coveted delicacy of Shima. We greatly appreciated her generosity however, the delicacy unfortunately was wasted upon our family. 

Alex Graduates 8th Grade -

So proud of this kid and the young man he is growing up to be. Alex graduated 8th grade this spring and will begin high school in the fall. So fun to be a part of our kids everyday experience in Japan and at school. What a blessing it is to teach, worship and serve with them all the while watching them grow into loving, caring and responsible young men and women.

Bob handed out the 8th grade graduation certificates and was able to give Alex his certificate which made the promotion that much more special for our family.

Alex graduating 8th grade

High school and junior high graduation celebration

Bamboo Shoots From Our Neighbors -
Our neighbors dug bamboo shoots and shared some with us. I had no idea this is what the small strips of canned bamboo we buy in the states looked like in their original form. Apparently this is a seasonal tradition and families harvest "takenoko" and eat it in many dishes. They serve it with rice, in stir fry, and boiled. 

Bamboo shoots are dig up from the base. Once peeled, they boil it and cut it into chunks or strips. It has a very mild flavor and has chambers inside the stalks.

Takenoko shoots from our neighbors

Our neighbors recent "takenoko" (bamboo) harvest 

Thank you -
You may grow tried of hearing me say it, but thank you for your faithful support and prayers. Because of your support, we are able to invest deeply and generously in the school and our community.

We marvel at the grace of God, His kindness and faithfulness. We see Him open doors and opportunities for us regularly and are humbled by the friendships we have made and community in which we get to serve. 

In Christ, grateful and amazed we get to serve Him in this way. 

K. Chadduck  

Bob Accepts Principal Position at KCS -

Bob Accepted the Principal Position at Kansai Christian School –

So some of you may know by now but for those of you who do not, Bob will be the principal at Kansai Christian School (KCS) next year. After much prayer and teaching in the school for a semester, we think this is where God would have him serve the KCS community.

We are excited about being a part of this wonderful student body and faith community. He has continued to teach this semester as well as take on administrative tasks associated with the principal position. He is grateful for the unique opportunity to have worked alongside Sampo Sainio, (former KCS principal) this past year as he learned about the school and transitioned into his new role.

KCS is pursuing accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) so we are preparing for many changes in the next few years as the staff pursues accreditation.

Sampo Sainio, former KCS principal passing the torch to Bob

Kyoto Temples and Parks

About a month ago we spent the day in Kyoto and took in many world famous tourist sights. Though Kyoto is not far from where we live, just a few hours, there is a noticeable difference in some of the day to day customs. Because it is a metropolitan area you will notice many foreigners in the area and hear numerous languages spoken as you mingle with other tourists.

Alex in front of a temple entrance in Kyoto, Japan

Kyoto has been on our list of places to visit since we arrived and we finally were able to get away on a weekend. Because the area is so rich in history and has so much to offer tourists, we were advised to plan several day or overnight trips to see the various regions.

Pagoda in Kyoto, Japan

We visited Kiyomizu-dera Temple which is just one of the many World Heritage sites in Kyoto. This temple features the world famous "Kiyomize-no-butai (main hall's wooden veranda)" which is supported by 139 pillars and provides and amazing view of the city as well as surrounding gardens.

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Pagoda from across the valley Kyoto, Japan

Sacred watering pools at Kiyomizu-dera Temple

We had a great time visiting the area, walking through beautiful parks, seeing hundreds of men and women dressed in traditional kimono's, and visiting small shops lining the streets filled with wonderful Japanese items and great food.

Entrance to another large temple in Kyoto, Japan

Entomology in Japan

So to paint a more complete picture of life in Japan, I feel the need to show you some of the "pests" we have encountered while living here. They have ranged from cockroaches three inches long, lots of super tiny mosquitoes, centipedes, mamushi (Japanese viper) and yes these GIANT Japanese bees.

Large Japanese bee I found outside the school.

I found this gem on my way to school just outside of the school gate. It was dying on the ground but was still alive when I found it. If you know my family, they are always interested in pests and wildlife. To happen upon a giant bee was very interesting and led to a lot of teasing among my children.

You can see from Stephanie's had it is about three inches long

I am grateful to report for the most part, these pests leave us alone but once in a while I still let out a pretty good scream and my family asks from the other room, "centipede?" Sometimes it is and sometimes it is a roach that has made its way into one of our closets and startled me. 

Centipede - they are not poisonous but they can still pinch!

Ominous aren't they? Yes, they get into the house sometimes!

Kansai Christian School Drama Night

Each year KCS performs a musical with students and staff for families and the community. This year the musical was "Back to the Cross". It was based on similar themes as "Back to the Future" but with a Christian twist.

Stephanie as "Whitney" in "Back to the Cross"

The premise is a group of kids get into a time machine and travel back in time together. Some of the kids are believers, others in the time machine are not. Their stops to different time periods change the future and as a result, churches are not built, communities are changed, and they realize the impact of one life lived for Christ.

Stephanie as an All-American Valley Girl.

They did an amazing job and the production was great. Stephanie played Whitney, an All-American Valley Girl with frizzed out hair, valley girl jargon, and a scrunchy to boot. We really enjoyed the performance and this was Stephanie’s first acting debut. Many family, friends and neighbors attended at a local theater the school rented in our area.

Thank you for your faithful support. I apologize for not updating the blog for a few weeks. We were really busy with end of the year school activities and continue to prepare for next fall. We appreciate all of the financial as well as prayer support we are blessed to receive. We love what God has called us to here in Japan and are blessed to partner with you serving the broader body of Christ.

In His service with gratitude,

K. Chadduck

Mochi Strawberries with Saito Sensei -

Mochi Strawberries with Saito Sensei -

Saito Sensei invited me to attend her 7th and 8th grade Japanese class a few weeks ago to make mochi strawberries. They are strawberries wrapped in red bean paste covered with mochi and I LOVE them! I am typically not a big fan of mochi balls but I love these strawberries with red bean paste and mochi. They are delicious and beautiful as well!

Saito Sensei is so kind to me and my family sharing the history of many Japanese festivals, places to sight see and wonderful foods to try. Thank you so much Saito Sensei!

Ichigodaifuku (Before moci wrapping)

Ichigodaifuku (after mochi wrapping) YUMMM!

Saito Sensei and I in her 7/8 Japanese class making strawberry mochi

Kumamoto Earthquakes –
We heard from many of you after the Kumamoto earthquakes on April 14^th and the 16th, 2016 asking if we were alright and if we felt the quakes. We are quite a ways north of Kyushu on the island of Honshu so we did not feel any of the quakes.

We are closer to Osaka and Kumamoto is quite a bit north of Honshu.

If you followed the news, they are calling it one of the 4th worst quakes in Japan's history. Unlike most quakes in Japan, this one continues to experience aftershocks which are now updards of 1,400 since the original earthquake reached a magnitured of 7 on the Japanese intensity scale. 

They estimate roughly 80,000 homes have been destroyed and to date 49 people were killed in the quakes. There is extensive damage and when one of the pastors from our church went to help local churches the people were asking for just about any kind of assistnace. It is a month later and children are still not able to attend school and many are still living and sleeping on futons whereever they may find shelter.

It is heart wrenching and when something like this happens in Japan the whole country feels it strongly. Many Christian churches are sending funds and people to help in whatever way they can. Our pastor told us they did really basic thingks like clean up debris, hookup water lines and hand out food because the damage is so extensive they are still in need of the most basic assistance. 

Please pray for the people of Kumamoto and those who are called upon to help. May their hearts be open to the gospel and may many in the body of Christ be the hands and feet that deliver hope and the good news of Jesus to this devastated region.

Osaka Castle and Sacura –

We had the opportunity during sacura season to meet up with Momo and Mitsuki at Osaka Castle and eat lunch under the sacura trees. This is a traditional Japanese activity in the spring and I was so excited to be in Osaka Park and take in all the festivities.

Bob's attempt to play the shamisen

We had a wonderful lunch along the river and Bob even got to play a Monk’s shamisen. See the attached video of the monk singing a traditional Japanese song. I wish I had video of Bob but I don't. 

We also toured the grounds of Osaka Castle which is beautiful and amazing at night when it is all lit up.

Osaka Castle lit up at night - so beautiful and so big!

Thank you to family and friends who continue to pray for us and support our efforts here in Japan. We are grateful and feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful school and amazing community. We hope you know what an intergral part of this ministry you are. Thank you! 

In Christ,

K. Chadduck

Things You Take For Granted

Things you take for granted –

So I know this may sound silly but I wanted to share some of the day to day experiences of living in Japan as well as the amazing sightseeing and friendships we are building. The past few weeks I have been grateful for my Crest toothpaste. Now before you say really, of all the things, toothpaste?!

Well, I tried a few kinds of Japanese toothpaste and they were just not my Crest toothpaste. Sometimes it is the simplest and most basic things we experience every day that bring us comfort and joy. So…I asked my mother to send the a few tubes of my favorite Crest toothpaste. She did and I was so happy to brush my teeth with the familiar flavor and consistency of my toothpaste.

My favorite toothpaste

My family said they were fine with the other brands but I guess it may be like your favorite pen or your favorite pair of socks and how they feel on your feet. There are some things you just can not replace and I am here to tell you I really appreciate my toothpaste. Several mornings now over the past few weeks I have been grateful to see my familiar tube of Crest in the medicine cabinet when I brush my teeth. It brings me joy and I am grateful presently for my toothpaste.

Stephanie's Admirer -

We were all bit surprised when Stephanie received a custom box of chocolates from a little first grade boy at her school. He happens to live in our neighborhood so she and Bob have walked by his house and taken him to the park to play a couple of times. Appears he is a bit smitten with her. 

Customized chocolates from an admirer

So cute, although I see just this past week he appears to have found another little girl more his age who he is interested in. We were pretty sure the interest was not going to last... 

Alex’s Birthday

We celebrated Alex's birthday with cake, ice cream and presents and are awaiting the arrival of his much anticipated long board from the states. His grand parents sent him American candy and a cool cross necklace and Reiko down the street gave him an amazing three D light up globe for his birthday. 

Alex's birthday cake

Alex's birthday celebration

I can hardly believe Alex is graduating junior high and will soon be heading to high school. He is now quite a bit taller than I am and reminds me of it regularly when we share tallest to smallest at the dinner table. He thinks this is great fun and looks more and more like a high school kid every day. He received many birthday messages from friends and family letting him know they were thinking of him and wishing him a happy birthday.

Light up 3-D globe from Reiko

Bob Sick Over Spring Break -

Thank you to many of our supporters, family and friends who prayed for Bob when he was sick. He had a cold for a couple weeks, then caught influenza B which pretty much put him on his back for a full week during spring break. He was in pretty bad shape and we are grateful he is better now.

He indicated that was as sick as he has ever been and even appendicitis and kidney stones once diagnosed, were dealt with and had a faster recovery time than the flu. Apparently the flu hits foreigners harder than locals because we are not accustom to the strains of flu for the region. 

Bob is still dealing with ear issues stemming from an ear infection he caught when he had the cold/flu three weeks ago. Please pray his hearing returns to normal in the near future. He went to an ear, nose and throat doctor this past week to get some relief.

Futsal Tournament at Osaka International School -

KCS played their final futsal tournament of the year a couple weeks ago at OIS. It was a beautiful day and the boys played well winning some and losing a few as well. They placed 6th out of 12 schools represented which is a great showing for our school.

KCS vs. MC Perry

KCS vs. Nagoya

KCS vs. Nagoya

Some of the schools which attend this tournament boast student bodies upwards of 300+ students and we are about 1/6 of those numbers. I am proud of the team and their achievements this year as well as the great attitude with which they represent our school Great job boys and congratulations!

Thank you -

Thank you to all our of faithful supporters, family and friends. I know I say it a lot, but thanks to you we get to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those around us here in Japan. We appreciate your generosity and are honored to be here serving Christ in this amazing and wonderful community.  

In His Service,

K. Chadduck

Kimonos with Saito Sensei and Kae –

Shakespeare  As You Like It Globe Theater Posters -

So I gave my class a Shakespeare assignment to generate a play poster (think movie poster) for the Globe Theater. Students were to make posters advertising Mr. Shakespeare's upcoming play, As You Like It.

Shakespeare's As you Like it Movie Poster 

They were instructed to entice patrons to spend their hard earned money, provide details regarding the play, introduce the cast, type of play, include one advertisement and write an editorial review after the first nights showing.

As You Like it Movie Poster

They are amazing and came up with some fantastic, funny and beautiful posters for the project. I think you will enjoy their sense of humor. Bob and I even found ourselves part of the cast on one poster!

The caption on this one made me laugh out loud!

Globe Theater Movie Poster

This one was giving away tickets signed by Shakespeare himself to entice attendees

Imazu Lighthouse and Mukogowa Women's University –

We took a trip to Kobe to watch Alex play futsal at the Canadian Academy and after the matches we met up with a couple former Mukogowa students, Yuki and Mikiko. They met us in Kobe for lunch, to see the Imazu Lighthouse and tour the Mukogowa campus as well.

The Imazu lighthouse, which is in the shape of a lantern is an important part of the Imazu port history and is still active today. We wanted to see this particular lighthouse in Kobe because Spokane is a Sister City to Nishinomiya and they are building a replica of the Imazu lighthouse in Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington. 

We first heard about the building of the Imazu lighthouse replica in Riverfront Park at a Spokane - Nishinomiya Sister City Society Meeting in the summer of 2015. The Imazu lighthouse was originally built in 1810 and was restored to its original state in 1984.

Imazu Lighthouse Built in 1810 and restored in 1984 - Kobe, Japan

Much smaller than I thought it would be for a lighthouse...

Imazu Port Lighthouse - Kobe, Japan

Yuki, Alex and I at the Imazu Lighthouse

The Imazu lighthouse being built in Riverfront Park is part of the ongoing fifty year sister city relationship between Spokane and Nishinomiya. We enjoyed seeing the original lighthouse and experiencing this part of our Sister City heritage.

We also toured the campus of Mukogowa Women's University with Mikiko while in Kobe. It was great to see the campus in Japan which we hear so much about through the Mukogowa Fort Wright Institute (MFWI) in Spokane.

Alex, Stephanie and Mikiko enjoying ice cream on the Mukogowa campus

Mukogowa Women's University - Kobe, Japan

Mukogowa is the largest women's university in Japan with roughly 10,000 students and a satellite campus in Spokane where they host students from the Kobe campus each quarter. They offer a home stay program at MFWI which is how we met many of our friends here in Japan. 

Mokogowa Women's University

Our visit with Mikiko at Mukogowa Women's University

Kimonos with Saito Sensei and Kae –

Over spring break Stephanie and I had the amazing opportunity to dress up in kimonos with Saito Sensei and Kae. Saito Sensei invited us to share in this Japanese tradition and blessed us tremendously by sharing her family kimonos and allowing us to take pictures in these beautiful gowns.

Stephanie and I in Kimono's

Because the kimono tradition is fading in Japan and many in the younger generation are opting for more Western style clothing, the tradition of the kimono as daily attire in Japan is losing popularity. You still see women in kimonos for special occasions including weddings, coming of age ceremonies and special celebrations. However, in the not do distant past the kimono was the daily attire for Japanese women.

Kimono's in Japanese Garden

Because the kimono is worn less frequently today, many women do not know how to wear or dress in the kimono which is very involved and difficult to put on properly. There are classes available to teach women how to properly wear and assemble the kimono. It is an art form and we were fortunate enough to have Saito Sensei and Kae practice their skill as they allowed us to wear these beautiful pieces of Japanese tradition and family heritage.

Kimono's in Japanese Garden

We had a wonderful time visiting and taking pictures with these amazing women. They blessed us with tea and snacks after preparing the kimonos and our hair with traditional Japanese hair clips, shoes and hand bags. We are grateful for their generosity to give of their time and experience in sharing part of their rich Japanese culture with us. 

Saito Sensi, Kae, Me and Stephanie

Kae, Me and Saito Sensi - such a fun day. Thank you so much!

Thank you for checking in again to our blog. Sorry it has been so long since I posted an update. As you can tell from our pictures and activities, we have been busy experiencing as much of this rich culture and wonderful people as we can.

We continue to feel blessed and are regularly amazed we get the opportunity to be in Japan teaching and sharing about the Lord. Thank you for your partnership in this adventure that makes these opportunities a reality. We hope to share with you in pictures our efforts to connect with this culture, students and community for His greater purposes.

In Christ with a grateful heart,

K. Chadduck